Oscar winner and ITV Downton Abbey dramatist Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL presided at the 111th. Annual General Meeting of The Society of Dorset Men.”Emma and I are very glad to be living in beautiful Dorset,” began Lord Fellowes, “I often say that he who lives in our great county of Dorset has won the lottery of life.”
He went on to regret the passing of veteran Chairman Roy Adam MBE, “an extraordinary Dorset man- in a Hardyean manner.” The company of 83 members and their wives rose to toast the good health of Lord and Lady Fellowes, President of the Society for four years.
The AGM was preceded by lunch at the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club at Studland. In his usual wide ranging review of the Society’s year, Chairman Stuart Adam mused whether in 1904, the founders had envisaged the organisation would still be going strong 111 years later. He praised Trevor Vacher-Dean from Weymouth for producing two excellent Dorset Year Books. There was spontaneous applause as the Chairman spoke about the outstanding Newsletter and how Editor Michel Hooper-Immins always found interesting and informative content. Andy Prowse heads the Charity subcommittee, which brought good publicity to the organisation- a reminder for members of the Society’s role in modern times. There were thanks for the splendid work of Webmaster John Heather from Portland. Finally, the Chairman paid tribute to Secretary Hayne Russell and his wife Pat who put so much work into organizing the Society and it’s events.
The traditional “splendid silence” is when members stand to remember those who had been lost during the year- notably former Chairman Roy Adam MBE, former Secretary Gordon Hine FRICS and former Deputy President Sir Jim Spicer.
Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL was unanimously acclaimed as President. Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DL DSc DMus and Jeremy Pope OBE DL were returned as Deputy Presidents. All six Officers were re-elected: Stuart Adam [Chairman,] Andrew Prowse [Deputy Chairman,] Hayne Russell [Secretary,] Ian Morton [Treasurer,] Michel Hooper-Immins [PR & Newsletter Editor,] Peter Lush [Membership & Assistant Secretary.]
Committeemen Shaun Cregan, Alderman Andy Hutchings, Geoff King, John Rousell, Paul Snow, Rev. Dr. John Travell FRSA and Sam Woodcock were all re-elected. Douglas Beazer from Beaminster was newly elected to the 14 man committee. Peter Ashdown from Wareham stood down from the committee after 12 years service.
The Society of Dorset Men was founded 111 years ago on 7 July 1904. The Society has a long and rich history, beginning as The Society of Dorset Men in London and aiming to bring together fellow Dorsets in the capital city. However, since the 1970s, the main activities of the organisation have been centred on Dorset. Today, there are around 1,200 members throughout the UK and all over the world. The President is Oscar winner and ITV Downton Abbey playwright Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL. He succeeded Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DL DSc DMus in 2011, the only Lord Mayor of London to be born in Weymouth and who still lives in Wyke Regis.
The four objects of The Society of Dorset Men are: “to make and to renew personal friendships and associations, to promote good fellowship among Dorset men wherever they may reside, to foster love of the county and pride in its history and traditions and to assist, by every means in its power, natives of Dorset who may stand in need of the influence and help of the Society.”
Michel Hooper-Immins
